If you set up 2-Step Verification, you can use the Google Authenticator app to receive codes. You can still receive codes without internet connection or mobile service. Learn more about 2-Step Verification.
App requirements
To use Google Authenticator on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, you need:
- The latest operating system for your device
- 2-Step Verification turned on
Tip: If you have an iPhone 3G or up, to use Authenticator, you can scan a QR code.
Download Authenticator
Set up Authenticator
- On your iPhone or iPad, go to your Google Account.
- At the top, tap Security.
- Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
- Under "Add more second steps to verify it’s you," find "Authenticator app" and tap Set up.
- Follow the on-screen steps.
Get Google Authenticator codes on a new phone
Transfer Authenticator codes to a new phone
You need:
- Your old iPhone with Authenticator codes
- The latest version of the Google Authenticator app installed on your old phone
- Your new phone
- On your new phone, install the Google Authenticator app.
- In the app, tap Get Started.
- At the bottom, tap Import existing accounts?.
- On your old iPhone, create a QR code:
- In the Authenticator app, tap More
Export accounts
Continue.
- Select the accounts you want to transfer to your new phone, then tap Export.
- If you transfer multiple accounts, your old phone may create more than one QR code.
- In the Authenticator app, tap More
- On your new phone, tap Scan QR code.
- After you scan your QR codes, you get a confirmation that your Google Authenticator accounts transferred. You can remove your exported accounts from your old phone.
Tip: If your camera can’t scan the QR code, it may be that there’s too much info. Try to export again with fewer accounts.
Change which phone to send Authenticator codes
- On your Android device, go to your Google Account.
- At the top, tap Security.
- Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
- Under "Available second steps," find "Authenticator app" and tap Change Phone.
- Follow the on-screen steps.
Use Authenticator on multiple accounts or devices
Authenticator can issue codes for multiple accounts from the same mobile device. Each Google Account must have a different secret key.
To set up extra accounts:
- Turn on 2-Step Verification for each account. Learn more about 2-Step Verification.
- Use the same Authenticator app for each account.
To get verification codes on more than one device:
- On the devices you want to use, make sure you install Authenticator.
- In your Google Account, go to the 2-Step Verification section.
- If you already have Authenticator for your account, remove that account from Authenticator.
Important: Before you remove an account from Authenticator, make sure you have a backup. Learn more about backup codes.
- To set up 2-Step Verification for the Authenticator app, follow the steps on screen. Use the same QR code or secret key on each of your devices. Learn more about 2-Step Verification.
- To check that the code or key works, make sure the verification codes on every device are the same.